Names:
conventional long form:
State of Qatar
conventional short form:
Qatar
local long form:
Dawlat Qatar
local short form:
Qatar
Digraph:
QA
Type:
traditional monarchy
Capital:
Doha
Administrative divisions:
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are 9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular -
baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al
Rayyan, Al Wakrah, Ash Shamal, Jarayan al Batnah, Umm Salal
Independence:
3 September 1971 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
Constitution:
provisional constitution enacted 2 April 1970
Legal system:
discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil
codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant in personal
matters
Suffrage:
none
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
Amir and Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Hamad Al Thani (since 22 February
1972); Crown Prince HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (appointed 31 May 1977;
son of Amir and Minister of Defense)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the amir
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura):
constitution calls for elections for part of this consultative body,
but no elections have been held; seats - (30 total)
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
none
Member of:
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
IDB, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador ABD AL-RAHMAN bin Saud bin Faud Al Thani
chancery:
Suite 1180, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone:
(202) 338-0111
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Kenton W. KEITH
embassy:
149 Ali Bin Ahmed St., Farig Bin Omran (opposite the television
station), Doha
mailing address:
P. O. Box 2399, Doha
telephone:
(0974) 864701 through 864703
FAX:
(0974) 861669
Flag:
maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the
hoist side
@Qatar, Economy
Overview:
Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for roughly 85% of
export earnings and 75% of government revenues. Proved oil reserves of
3.3 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels
for about 25 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to
the leading industrial countries. Production and export of natural gas
are becoming increasingly important.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $8.8 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
-0.5% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$17,500 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$2.5 billion
expenditures:
$3 billion, including capital expenditures of $440 million (1992 est.)
Exports:
$3.4 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
petroleum products 85%, steel, fertilizers
partners:
Japan 61%, Brazil 6%, South Korea 5%, UAE 4%, Singapore 3% (1991)
Imports:
$1.8 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
machinery and equipment, consumer goods, food, chemicals
partners:
Japan 14%, UK 12%, US 12%, Germany 9%, France 5% (1991)
External debt:
$1.5 billion (1993 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%; accounts for 64% of GDP, including oil
Electricity:
capacity:
1,596,000 kW
production:
4.818 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
9,655 kWh (1992)
Industries:
crude oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel
(rolls reinforcing bars for concrete construction), cement
Agriculture:
farming and grazing on small scale, less than 2% of GDP; agricultural
area is small and government-owned; commercial fishing increasing in
importance; most food imported
Economic aid:
donor:
pledged in ODA to less developed countries (1979-88), $2.7 billion
Currency:
1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams
Exchange rates:
Qatari riyals (QR) per US$1 - 3.6400 riyals (fixed rate)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
@Qatar, Communications
Highways:
total:
1,500 km
paved:
1,000 km
unpaved:
gravel, natural surface 500 km (est.)
Pipelines:
crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km
Ports:
Doha, Umm Sa'id, Halul Island
Merchant marine:
18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 373,491 GRT/567,294 DWT,
container 4, cargo 11, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1
Airports:
total:
5
usable:
4
with permanent-surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
2
Telecommunications:
modern system centered in Doha; 110,000 telephones; tropospheric
scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and UAE;
submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE; satellite earth stations - 1
Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT; broadcast
stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, 3 TV
@Qatar, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 217,538; fit for military service 114,468; reach
military age (18) annually 3,737 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA%, of GDP
@Reunion
Header
Affiliation: (overseas department of France)